8 Waves

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

Some heroes wear capes ours reads beside a tiny horse.

Susan has spent years watching 8 Waves students grow in confidence and fall in love with learning, and we are so proud to see her spotlighted as Spectrum News 13’s Hero of the Week!

Watch the story here: https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2026/08/29/volunteer-inspiring-kids-to-reads-with-animals

09/01/2026

Today, 8 Waves officially kicked off our fall free academic programs across Orange and Lake counties. Every lesson and every moment of encouragement helps build opportunities!

09/01/2026

Today, 8 Waves officially kicked off our fall free academic programs across Orange and Lake counties. Every lesson and every moment of encouragement helps build opportunities!

08/24/2026

There is something special about hearing a student say, “I can’t wait for 8 Waves to come back.” We can’t wait either.

In just a few weeks, 8 Waves will return to school campuses from preschool through high school. Our programs look different at every stage because our students’ needs do.

Target has selected 8 Waves as a Target Circle Community Giving partner. When you shop, cast your Target Circle votes for 8 Waves.

Your vote joins your neighbors’ votes to help meet real needs across our campuses helping students.

That is the power of community: each of us doing something small and together creating something extraordinary!

08/21/2026

Sometimes, a little wonder is all it takes to open a world of possibility. ✨

Through stories, art, animals and hands-on discovery, 8 Waves gives children more ways to learn, imagine and dream. Our fall programs are almost here! Want to read with a child, create something together or help bring moments like this to life? Contact Chloe at [email protected] to get involved.

08/20/2026

I AM IN. ARE YOU IN?

Orange County, this is a pretty exciting moment and we would love for you to be part of it.

I AM Children’s Museum has reached an important step in the Orange County tourism funding process. Before the County Commission meets again, one thing matters tremendously: hearing from the community.

Families. Teachers. Business owners. Grandparents. Community leaders. Neighbors. Anyone who believes Orange County should have a dedicated children’s museum where kids can create, connect, discover and solve.

We want your voice to be part of this. We’ve made it incredibly simple, and it takes about 20 seconds:

https://iamchildrensmuseum.org/sandbox

Add your name and why you’re excited about I AM. From there, an email is created for you to send directly to the Orange County Mayor and Commissioners. You can personalize it and make it your own!

Every email helps show just how many people across our community want to see this project become a reality.

And you can help even more by sharing this with your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, school communities and anyone else who might say: “I AM IN.”

This museum is being built for children and families and we want the community that will one day walk through its doors to help bring it to life.

Support I AM Children’s Museum:
https://iamchildrensmuseum.org/sandbox

08/10/2026

Imagine an entire world built at a child’s size where creative arts, hands-on play and imagination let kids learn by actually doing.

At I AM Children’s Museum, kids can step into a kid-sized community, explore different careers and real-world roles, earn and use museum money, create art, build, solve and discover.

They can paint, sculpt and sew in the Art Lab, engineer and test ideas in the Builder Zone, then head outdoors to climb and explore the Tree of Possibilities a larger-than-life outdoor adventure built around movement, imagination and discovery and continue onto nearly two miles of interactive Discovery Trails through nature.

Indoor. Outdoor. Hands-on. Creative. Affordable. Built for kids to experience again and again.

Whether visiting Central Florida from around the world or growing up right here, I AM is being created as an affordable family destination where children can explore what interests them, discover what they’re good at and see more of what’s possible.

An initiative of 8 Waves and Orange County’s first dedicated children’s museum.

I AM Children’s Museum | Play Into Possibility.

08/09/2026

ONE MORNING. 3 HOURS. 800+ STUDENTS INSPIRED.

That’s all we’re asking.

On September 14th, we’re partnering with Ocoee High School to connect more than 800 students with real people and real career possibilities.

We’re looking for hospitality and trade professionals to simply show up, share what you do, and introduce students to careers they may have never considered.

No big presentation. No special preparation. Just bring your experience.

Interested in joining us or sponsoring? Send us a DM.

08/05/2026

Big dreams require bold collaboration and today was a big step towards possibility.

Sharing the vision for the I AM Children’s Museum with the Tourist Development Tax Citizen Advisory Task Force today was a moment that represented countless hours of research, relationship-building, thoughtful conversations, and the dedication of so many people who believe in what’s possible. Thank you to our Executive Committee, staff, partners, volunteers, community members, and every supporter who has helped move this vision forward.

We know that the best things are built together 🩵